Electrical switches



March 8, 1960 H. w. BROWN 2,927,983

ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Filed Aug. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 4 a a March 8, 1960 H. w. BROWN 2,927,933

ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Filed Aug. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,927,983 I ELECTRICAL SWITCHES 1 Harry W. Brown, Mukwonago,"Wis., assignor to Cutler- Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application August 29,1958, Serial No. 758,125

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates -to electric switches, and more particularly to switches of the rocker button actuated type.

A primary object of the invention is to improve and simplify the details' of construction and assembly of the parts and the operating characteristics of the aforementionedtype of switches. X p

A more specific object is to provide a noveland simple form of manually operable switch of the rocker button type wherein the rocker button actuator is of a onedescribed in detail, it being understood that the embodiments illustrated are susceptible of various modifications without departing fromv the scope of the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a topplan view of a rocker button actuator switch construe-ted in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. '1; p k

Fig. 3- is a view, partly in vertical section andpartly in side elevation of a modified form of switch;

Fig. 4 is 'a perspectiveview showing details of a part of the switch shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. Sis a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l;

and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a sealing gasket and retaining plate used in the switch shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

' Referring to the drawings, the electric switchshown includes a casing consisting of a box like insulatcdswitch base 10 and a punched and stamped sheet metal switch frame 12. Switch frame 12 is provided with a cover portion 12a overlying and substantially closing the cavity in V I base 10. The switch frame 12 also has portions 12b bent-downwardly to provide securement of the frame to base 10. Upwardly and outwardly bent portions 120 of the switch frame 12, provide switch mounting brackets, and-generally triangular portions 12d bent upwardly and in parallel with the, side walls of base 10 have alined apertures 12e toac'commodate the end portions ofa pivot pin 14.

The switch mechanism comprises a fixed common terminal assembly 16 secured rnidwayof the longitudinal dimension of the-bottom wall of-the base 10, fixed terminal assemblies 18 on opposite sides of the common terminal assembly 16, a tiltable bridging contactor 22, a bridging contactor operating plunger 24 and .a manually operating rocker button actuator 26; Each of the terminal vassemblies 18 includes a lug 18a which is riveted to the outside of the bottom wall of the base 10. A rivet having an upset head 18b is seated against the inner surface of the bottom wall of the base 10 and nited States Patent bodiments of the invention which will be hereinafter 2,927,983 Patented Mar. 8, 1 9 60 -2 serves as a stationary contact tip. The common terminal assembly 16 includes a U-shaped pivot'member 16a and a lug 16b which are electrically interconnected and As thus fardescribed, the switch mechanism resembles, that disclosed in the Krieger Patent 2,248,362.

The bridging contactor operating plunger24 is slidably disposed in a downwardly opening recess 26a in a rocker button actuator 26. v 'Ihe plunger 24 is provided with an upwardly opening recess 24a and is biased into engagement with the bridging contactor 22 by a coiled commediate stem portion 260, and an integral depending shank portion 260! having downwardly depending lug portions 26a extending from the lower side of said shank portion and situated on opposite sides of the downwardly opening recess 26a. The generally semicircular portion 26c of the rocker button actuator 26 is provided with a pivot aperture 26f of circular cross section. A pivot pin 14 extends through the aligned apertures 12a and 26) to provide for pivotal-support of actuator 26. The rocker button. 26 is formed of a suitable insulating material such as thermo-plastic or thermal setting plastic.

In theassembled relation shown, the shank portion 26d of rocker button 26 extends downwardly into base 10 through a centrally located rectangular opening 12] in the overlying cover portion 12a of switch frame 12. When the rockcr button actuator 26 is rotated about pivot pin 14 to its extreme counterclockwise position as shown in Fig. 2, marginal ends of the opening 12 in the cover portion 12a of switch frame 12 engage-the filleted portion 26g of the shank portion 26d of the rocker button actuator-'26 to provide a positive stop. 1

As the rocker button actuator 26 begins to rotate clockwise about pivot 14 as shown in Fig. 3, plunger member 24 slides along onbridging contactor 22 and is displaced upwardly into recess 26a in the shank portion 26d of the rocker button actuator 26 against the bias of the spring 28. The upward displacement of the plunger 24 compresses spring 28 thereby maintaining continuous engagement of plunger 24 and the bridging contactor 22 asthe plunger 24 slides along on the bridging contactor.

' 22. As the plunger 24 begins to engage with the center portion-22a of the bridging contactor 22, the right-hand pivot the latter to a position substantially horizontal to the'bottomwall of switch base 10. Thus, the impact created by lug 26c engaging the bridging contactor-22 anemone bridging contactor 22 causing said portion of said con tactor to tilt downwardly into engagement with the lefthand stationary contact lei). The integral filleted portion 26g of the actuator 26 engages the opposite marginal end of the rectangular'opening 12] in the cover portion 12a of the switch frame 12 to stop the pivotal movement of the rocker button actuator 26 thereby preventing the plunger 24 from sliding over the end of the bridging contactor 22.

Asbest illustrated in Fig. 5, a modified form of switch has a sealing gasket 39 of resilient material such as felt or soft rubber. .As shown in Fig. 6, the gasket 39 is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with rectangular openings 30a. The gasket 39 is disposed about the rectangular opening 12 in switch frame 12 and is held in place by a punched and stamped retaining plate 34. The

retaining plate 34 substantially overlies the sealing gasket 7 39 to prevent displacement thereof and flanges 34a of the plate are secured to the switch frame 12 as by spot welding. The rectangular openings 30a in the gasket 30 are provided with inner dimensions such that, in assembled relation on switch frame 12, the marginal surfaces in the openings 39a of the gasket 30 are compressed snugly against the outer margins of the shank portions 260 and 26d of the rocker button actuators 26, as the actuators are pivoted about pivot pin 14, thereby continuously providing a seal to prevent dust or other foreign matter from entering through the opening in the top of the swtich base 10.

To provide a lateral ofiset 12g for placement therein of theside portions of gasket 30 and retaining plate 34, the upwardly extending spaced arms 12d of the switch plate 12 are bent inwardly at an angle at an intermediate point 12h of the spacer arms.

A light shield 50 composed of a thin sheet of suitable heat resistant material such. as fiber, plastic or metal is disopsed between two adjacent rocker button actuators 26 mounted coaxially on a pivot pin 14. The light shield 50 has a thickness approximately twice the depth of a shallow indented portion 26h located in that side of rocker button actuator 26 which abuts the surface of,

formed portion extending into said insulating base, said rocker button having a normal position and an operating position and means for pivotally supporting said actuating lever and said integrally formed portion carrying plunger means for continuously biasing said .contactor toward said stationary contacts 'anda projection adjacent said plunger means for forcibly and non resiliently tilting saidcon- 'tactor out of bridging engagement with one of said stationary contacts before said plunger means becomes operlightshield 60. As shown in Fig. 4, the light shield is generally triangular and has a depending rectangular shank 50a and a generally semicircular notch 50b at the apex to accommodate a boss 261 surrounding a pivot aperture 26f. When in the assembled relation with abutting rocker button actuator as mounted coaxially on pivot pin 14 shown in Fig. 3, the rectangular portion Sila of the shield Stiis positioned in the opening 12 in the overlying cover portion 12a of switch frame 12 and extends downwardly into the base it The ears 50c formed by the opposite angles of the triangular shield overlie the cover portion 12a to prevent the shield 59 from dropping into the base 10. The slope of the sides fiiid'of the shield is great enough to provide clearance between the shield 50 and the underside of the top portion 26b of the rocker button actuator as the rocker button is operated into either of its opposite extreme positions. Since the rectangular shank portion 59a of the light shield Si is disposed in the opening 12 in the cover portion 12a between the rocker button actuators 26, arcing between contacts 18b and the bridging contactor 22 which might be visible between adjacent rocker buttons during operation of the switch is eifectively shielded from the operators View.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, an insulating base, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts carried by said base, a tiltable contactor loosely and pivotally supported by one of said stationary contacts, a one-piece rocker button type actuating lever having an integrally ative to produce the aforesaid tilting action.

2. The combination according to claim l, wherein said plunger means comprises a spring biased plunger slidably carried by the integrally formed portion of said .leverfor continuously engaging said contactor, and wherein'said integrally formed portion has a plurality of depending lugs adjacent said plunger for forcibly. tilting said contactor upon rocking of said rocker button'actuating lever.

3. The combination according to claim 1', wherein said rocker button actuating lever is generally T-shaped and has'a top rocker button portion and an integral depending shank portion, said shank portion having a longitudinal downward opening recess to slidably'accomrnodate a spring biased plunger and also having a transverse opening therethrough to accommodate a pivot member having its extremities supported on said supporting means, said shank portion also having a plurality of integral lugs adjacent to and on opposite sides of said recess and depending downwardly therefrom, said lugs non-resiliently engaging and forcibly tilting said contactor out of engagement with one of said stationary contacts before said rocker button actuating lever is operated to its normal position.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, together with a resilient sealing member having a central opening extending therethrough and overlying said'sheet metal memher, said sealing member engaging along the margins of said openings with the outer surfaces of said intermediate portion of said rocker button actuating lever, means overlying said sealing member to cause the latter to compressively engage said intermediate portion of-said actuating lever as said actuating lever is pivotally moved and to secure said sealing member on said sheet metal member.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said sealing member comprises a rectangular gasket formed of soft rubber having arectangular opening extending therethrough, and wherein the last specified means comprises 'a rectangular metal plate having a rectangular opening extending therethrough registering with the opening in said gasket, said plate having its end portions secured to said sheet metal member.

6. In an electric switch having an insulating base, a plurality of spaced stationarycontacts carried by said base, a tiltable contactor loosely and pivotally supported by one of said stationary contacts, an actuating lever piovtally supported abovesaid insulating base and extending into said insulating base comprising means for tilting said contactor to bridge said one stationary contact and another of said stationary contacts upon movement of said actuating lever, the improvement comprising nonresilient means for positively breaking a weldbetween said contactor and said stationary contacts upon pivoting of said actuating lever, said means comprising a' plurality References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,362, 'Krieger July 8, 1941 2,792,46 r Leuthold May 14, 1957 2,795,667 "schwerketntnmunae mi. June 11, 1957 

